Yellow Star-grass Hypoxis hirsuta
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Hypoxis decumbens
- Ornithogalum hirsutum
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-POK-sis her-SOO-tuh
- Description
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Common Goldstar is a low, tufted, grass-like plant that grows from a hard corm. The corm is hard and hairy. It is found growing in open woodlands, abandoned fields, lawns, prairies, and other open areas. Although not an aggressive plant, it can spread to form colonies.
Its close resemblance to grass is only distinguishable when the plant is in bloom.
Carpenter bees, Mason bees, and Halictid bees are attracted to the blooms. Some flies and beetles feed on the pollen. Small rodents may eat the corms.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: The seeds are tiny, difficult to collect.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hypoxis
- Species:
- hirsuta
- Family:
- Hypoxidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 7 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Wildflower
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Displays from May to July.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- A loose cluster of yellow one to three star-shaped flower buds. The 3/4" flowers bloom with six, pointed petals. Bloom from March to June. The center contains a yellow pistil surrounded by 6 stamens with yellow anthers.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 12" tall hairy, narrow grasslike leaves that originate from the base of the plant. The leaves are linear or linear-elliptic in shape.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The 8" stems can be erect or reclining. Each stem will end in a loose umbel of 1 or 2 flowers.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
